B.C. 45, ÆT. 61
"Fear this and not the other? passing strange!"[1]
But this and much besides when we meet. However, we must suspend the payment of the debt to Cærellia till we know about Meton and Faberius.
DXCVIII (A XII, 52)
TO ATTICUS (AT ROME)
Tusculum, 21 May
You know L. Tullius Montanus, who has gone abroad with
my son. I have received a letter from his sister's husband
saying that Montanus owes Plancus twenty-five sestertia
(about £200) as security for Flaminius; and that you had
received some request from Montanus on that subject. I
should be much obliged if you could assist him either by
making an application to Plancus, if that is necessary, or by
any other way. I think myself bound to do something for
him. If it happens that you know more about the business
than I do, or if you think application should be made to
Plancus, please write and tell me, that I may know how the
matter stands and what sort of application ought to be made.
I am waiting to hear what you have done about the letter to
Cæsar. About Silius I don't so very much care. Yes, you
must secure either the grounds of Scapula or Clodia. But
you seem to have some hesitation about Clodia—is it as to
the time of her return or as to whether her grounds are for
sale? But what is this I hear of Spinther having divorced
his wife?[2] As to the Latin language, set your mind at ease.
You will say—"What, when you write on such subjects?"[3]
- ↑ A line from some unknown comedy, often quoted by Cicero.
- ↑ The wife of P. Cornelius Lentulus Spinther was Cæcilia Metella, who was believed to have intrigued with Dolabella (see p. 44), and with Æsopus, son of the actor (Hor. Sat. ii. 3, 239).
- ↑ Philosophy—in which the Greek terms would be difficult to represent in Latin.
